Overcoming the Anxiety of Pulsatile Tinnitus

If you have never suffered from Tinnitus, it is a difficult disorder to understand.

The condition causes a distortion of the hearing and people who suffer from it often complain of a constant noise – often a ringing sound — that can cause severe headaches.

This condition is known as Pulsatile Tinnitus. If you have Tinnitus, you know how debilitating it can be. Often it leads to severe panic attacks and extreme anxiety. It is not uncommon for the sufferer to become deeply depressed.

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One man, who had learned to live with his Tinnitus for over 10 years, suffered a leg injury that was extremely painful. The nagging pain in his leg caused him to became agitated, which, in turn, caused his Tinnitus to reappear “with a vengeance!” This condition became so dire that he actually considered having surgery to cause deafness in one ear in an effort to end the constant noise.

Another man said he suffered from Pulsatile Tinnitus as a child but it eventually went away. Recently, however, he whacked his head in a fall at work and immediately the condition recurred and the sounds came back with more ferocity than ever before.

These sounds appear to be caused by a change in the blood flow in the neck and head. As the sounds increase, (often at night while trying to sleep) it is common to feel a rush of adrenaline. Since a mild case of Tinnitus is very annoying, an extreme case can drive a person to desperate measures – sometimes even becoming suicidal.

Some sufferers have tried to use alcohol to deaden their feelings, but, as one man said: Alcohol makes it a billion times worse.

Many report that even taking an aspirin to dull their pain increases their symptoms dramatically.

Pulsatile Tinnitus can affect all aspects of a person’s life, especially if they develop anxiety related issues. Over time the noises may cause an overwhelming fear or dread — the feeling that something “bad” is going to happen. This can lead to serious mental disorders that actually prevent the sufferer from performing normal daily routines.

One victim of the disorder cried: “The worst part is the more that you think about it the worse it becomes.”

It is no wonder doctors often prescribe antidepressants or anti psychotic drugs for their patients suffering from Tinnitus. While antidepressants may help the Tinnitus sufferer cope, they will not cure his or her problem.

What causes Tinnitus? Obviously it is a malfunction in the body. Some have been told they suffer from an inner ear disorder. Others have been told they have sinus infections. Some patients have been told the hairs in their cochlea are damaged or missing.

One person I spoke to, a musician, said he lost some of his hearing due to his years playing in clubs next to extremely loud speakers. “My E.N.T. (ear, nose and throat doctor) gave me a hearing test and told me my hearing loss caused my brain to ‘turn up the volume’ to fill in the range I lost. But because of the damage in my ear all I hear is a high pitch ringing. He told me there is no cure for the problem.” He went on to say: “I can’t stand the idea of living the rest of my life like this – I am at my wits end!”

Others have been told the problem originates with stress. Hypertension is often mentioned as a possible cause. One sufferer was told his problem might have to do with his sinuses, but, as he said: “Trying to find out what causes my problem, or what can cure my Tinnitus, is draining my wallet!”.

Obviously, the best way to cure any disorder is to find out the cause and then eliminate the source. Many who have suffered anxiety with pulsatile Tinnitus have discovered natural options that have brought them great relief. In fact, clinical tests have shown that, in many cases, natural cures not only treat Tinnitus, but can actually make the symptoms disappear forever.